Latest news with #BennedictMathurin
CBC
24-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Childhood in Montréal-Nord, draft snub turned Luguentz Dort into NBA champion
Social Sharing When the clock hit zero, kicking off celebrations with his teammates after clinching the NBA title, Luguentz Dort's thoughts were dominated by his family and his memories growing up in Montréal Nord. "I was thinking about my whole — everything honestly, my whole childhood," Dort said. "My family got to come on stage with me and then celebrate that as well. It was a moment I'll never forget." Later this summer, Dort will be bringing the NBA trophy home to Montréal-Nord next month after winning an NBA title with the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games versus the Indiana Pacers. "I feel like they deserve that because they've been supporting me all season," he told CBC's Daybreak Thursday morning. People in Montréal-Nord had the opportunity to see two of its neighbourhood heroes during the finals. WATCH | Rapid-fire questions with Lu Dort: 7 questions with Luguentz Dort, Montreal's recently crowned NBA champion 4 minutes ago Dort was facing off against Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers — a close friend of his — essentially guaranteeing a big celebration for the city, but specifically the borough he grew up in. Dort said he phoned Mathurin when he found out the Pacers had made it to the finals, calling it "insane." "Me and Ben, you know, spend a lot of time together during the off-season, we train together as well. So like, to be in there where like 'I'm not even talking to you,' like we was at that point like 'You not my friend no more,'" Dort said laughing. Earlier this year, Dort was also named to the NBA's All-Defensive First Team, an honour recognizing his skill as a defensive player during the regular season. Dort joined the Thunder in 2019 after teams passed up on him at the NBA draft — despite the fact he had been projected as a first-round pick. The hurt and disappointment from that night has helped develop into a key cog on a championship team. "That's a day that I will never forget," he said of the 2019 NBA draft. "It's always a motivation every time I face a team that had the chance to draft me. But at the same time, it shaped me as a player and helped me, you know, get to where I am today." Dort won't just be back in Montreal to celebrate the NBA championship win. He runs a basketball camp in the city, with hopes of giving potential future NBA stars opportunities he didn't have as a younger player. "Growing up, I used to travel a lot to go those elite camps in L.A. or Houston or all those big cities," he said.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bennedict Mathurin Sends Final Message to Former Pacer Myles Turner
Bennedict Mathurin Sends Final Message to Former Pacer Myles Turner originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When the Indiana Pacers first lost Myles Turner to the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, fans around the league simply thought that the Pacers were unwilling to pay him fair market value. Advertisement It was later revealed that Indiana was more than willing to dip into the luxury tax to keep him in town, and even though the Bucks offered more money, no love would be lost. Then it was claimed by team president Kevin Pritchard that Turner never informed the Pacers that he planned to jump ship, letting them find out the same way everyone else did when Shams Charania broke the news. Of course, fans were heartbroken to learn that the longest-tenured player on the team basically slipped away in the dead of night, and it turns out his teammates felt the same way. Bennedict Mathurin took to social media to post a picture of him dunking on Turner in practice. Advertisement Fans loved Mathurin's pointed gesture, and the fourth-year player is expected to break out as an exciting and athletic volume scorer in a bigger role with Tyrese Haliburton sidelined. Mathurin has long been the subject of trade rumors, and his rookie contract will expire after next season, but he has successfully wooed fans and become a high-level contributor off the bench and as a starter. Expect him to start in the backcourt next season alongside Andrew Nembhard, and outside of Pascal Siakam, it's hard to imagine him not leading the team in points per game. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Advertisement Related: Indiana Pacers Land NBA Champion in Free Agency Related: Indiana Pacers Reveal Bombshell About Losing Myles Turner This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Pacers' Expectations for Next Season Revealed
Indiana Pacers' Expectations for Next Season Revealed originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers, perhaps more than any team in the NBA, had a rough offseason. It started before the final buzzer, when Tyrese Haliburton went down with a torn Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He will miss all of next season, and the Pacers let Myles Turner walk in free agency to their divisional rival, the Milwaukee Bucks. Advertisement Even before Turner walked, the Pacers were expected to struggle without Haliburton, but now with their best center seemingly Tony Bradley, next year will be full of experimentation. Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker might command some trade value, but in a bigger role with a depleted depth chart, they are expected to thrive and expand upon their roles before a possible midseason trade. "They'll use this year to let Bennedict Mathurin explore the limits of his game, figure out what they have in 2023 lottery pick Jarace Walker, and scavenge for other roster upgrades," predicted The Athletic's John Hollinger. Of course, the Pacers do have the means to pull themselves out of their newfound mediocrity, although ownership has already made it clear that they are not willing to spend massive sums. Advertisement "With roughly $22 million in room below the tax, plus their nontaxpayer MLE and biannual exceptions, Indy has the means to get a reasonable stopgap center," Hllinger continued. "But it will be a step down from Turner and will make everything harder when the Pacers try to recreate their 2025 playoff magic in 2026-27. Looking ahead, 2025-26 will certainly be a down year after being just 48 minutes away from a title, and expect a new-look team to take over in two seasons. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Indiana Pacers Get in the Mix for Knicks and Lakers Trade Target Related: NBA Insider Reveals Indiana Pacers Are Interested in Former Second Overall Pick This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
3 Indiana Pacers Stars Named in NBA Trade Rumors
3 Indiana Pacers Stars Named in NBA Trade Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers, after making the Eastern Conference Finals last season and taking the Oklahoma City Thunder to seven games in the Finals this year, are one of the best teams in the NBA. However, in that Game 7, All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles and will likely miss all of next season. Advertisement Of course, in a weak East, the Pacers can still compete with Andrew Nembhard taking over playmaking duties, although with their best player out, it's hard to imagine them repeating as conference champions. With plenty of young talent and depth pieces, the Pacers could make a splashy trade this offseason to better position themselves for success when Haliburton returns, and three players have been named in trade rumors. "In addition, teams around the league circled the wagon on the trade availability of Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, and Jarace Walker this season," wrote HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. "Rival teams are expected to circle the wagon again this offseason on those players." While Mathurin holds the best trade value, since he is a solid player still on his rookie contract, shedding Toppin's salary would allow for more flexibility for the Pacers and, depending on the deal they make, could get them back under the luxury tax after they re-sign Myles Turner. Advertisement Walker, it seems, is the most expendable. He is buried behind Pascal Siakam, Aaron Nesmith, and Toppin on the Pacers' depth chart and hasn't really been given a chance to develop, although he would fetch the smallest return in a trade. While the Pacers' offseason has only been 48 hours long, they are already the subject of rumors, and Scotto's report was backed up by ESPN insider Brian Windhorst. In the East, the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and even Detroit Pistons could have a better regular season than the Pacers, although every team, aside from the Magic, still has the means to make a win-now or future-driven move. Advertisement The Pacers do not have a first-round pick in this year's draft, so they don't have to act with the same urgency as teams looking to find a stud on Wednesday, but expect Indiana to, at the very least, be a team to watch. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Tyrese Haliburton's 'Most Devastating Injury in History' Means Major Changes for NBA Related: Tyrese Haliburton Gets Brutally Honest About Injury, Pacers Losing Finals This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
This is the latest Montreal baller heading to the NBA
Butler forward Jahmyl Telfort (11) plays against Marquette in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Indianapolis, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (Michael Conroy/The Associated Press) Another Montrealer has been picked up by an NBA team. Forward Jahmyl Telfort's rights were acquired by the LA Clippers after the NBA Entry Draft on Friday. The 6′7″, 225-pound senior who played his college ball with the Butler Bulldogs averaged 16 points a game, 4.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a senior. He started in 28 of 31 games for the Bulldogs. The terms of Telfort's contract are unknown. The Montreal North native moved with his family to Boucherville, Que. where he played high school ball at De Moortagne High School before moving to Toronto and then the NCAA. Telfort is the latest talent from Montreal North to draw attention from the NBA. NBA champion Luguentz 'Lu' Dort of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacer Bennedict Mathurin (who lost to Dort in the finals) are both from the borough, in addition to a handful of other players.
